Republican Paula Stark Bounced From Ballot Over Missing Paperwork
Florida law requires both an electronic Form 6 with the Ethics Commission and a physical copy or receipt delivered to the Division of Elections by the noon qualifying deadline; the dual step is what decided the case.
Florida law requires both an electronic Form 6 with the Ethics Commission and a physical copy or receipt delivered to the Division of Elections by the noon qualifying deadline; the dual step is what decided the case.
Leon Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes closed the file on Republican incumbent Paula Stark's ballot-access suit this week after finding she did not qualify for House District 47.
Why it matters: No other Republican qualified, so House District 47 moves to the Democratic column and the open August 18 primary between two Democrats decides the winner.
Date to watch: August 18, 2026 open primary
Sources:
- Florida Division of Elections Candidate Detail Paula Stark HD 47 (2026-07-28)
https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/candidates/CanDetail.asp?account=88999 - Florida Statutes § 99.061 Method of Qualifying (2025-01-01)
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0099/Sections/0099.061.html - 2026 State Qualifying Handbook Division of Elections (2026-01-01)
https://files.floridados.gov/media/710684/2026-state-qualifying-handbook.pdf - Leon Circuit Court Order Judge Joshua Hawkes on Stark Qualification (2026-07-09)
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28435086-252059851-order-1/ - Florida Division of Elections Final Order Revoking Friends of Paula (2025-11-06)
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26296606-final-order/ - Florida Politics Report on Final Case Closure (2026-07-23)
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/809185-judge-closes-paula-starks-case-after-failed-fight-to-get-back-on-the-ballot/
The Throughline decodes today's headline — with receipts. Every claim is sourced; links below.
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